Hebi Clay Whistles (Nigugu)

Xun County clay whistles — known as “nigugu” for the cooing sound they make when blown through two small holes in the tail — are a national-level intangible cultural heritage in the traditional fine arts category. Produced mainly in Yangyitun Village, Liyang Township, Xun County, Henan Province, these charming folk toys trace their origins to ancient bird-worship and fertility rituals, with mounted warrior and weapon figures appearing during the Sui and Tang dynasties. Nigugu come in over a hundred varieties across three broad categories — human figures, animals, and birds — characterised by bold, exaggerated forms and vivid contrasting colours. They are made from local yellow clay, shaped by hand or with moulds, then dried, fired, and painted by hand.